Folding ventilated head-rest and bed-bottom



No. 622,501. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

A. E. LARRABEE. FOLDING VENTILATED HEAD BEST AND BED BOTTOM.

' (Application filed Apt. 23, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet I.

Mam l/ *E STATES ALBERT E. LARRABEE, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING VENTILATED HEAD-REST AND BEEN-BOTTOM.

fiPEOIFICATION forming partof Letters latent No. 622,501, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed April 23, 1898. gerial No. 678,627. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. LARRABEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Ventilated Head-Rests and Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in folding ventilated headrests and bed-bottoms, and has for its ob j ect to provide exceedingly simple and effective devices of this description which are especially adapted for domestic use, but may also be used for hospitals and the like, and a special use to which my improvement'may be put is as a head-rest and bottom for a childs coach.

Another advantage of my invention is to provide for the collapsing of the head-rest or bed-bottom in such manner that it will fold into a comparatively small space.

W'ith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically described in the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents the embodiment of my improvement in a head-rest and bottom for a childs coach; Fig. 2, a plan view of the headrest Fig. 3, a' similar View of theframework, the cloth being removed therefrom; Fig. 4, a cross-section showing the stays and thumbscrew for holding the framework in its dis-' tended position; Fig. 5, an enlarged section of the side strips, showing the eyelets and the elastic cord passed therethrough; Fig. 6, a perspective of the head-rest when collapsed, and Fig. 7 a plan view of the frame when the separating-bar has been removed and it is partially collapsed.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied the head-rest A consists of the side strips B, which are of spring material and bent into substantially elliptical form, the

base thereof being upon a straightline, so as that to render it sufficiently rigid and prevent the sides thereof from moving out of line it must be further stayed, and this I accomplish by the distending-bar I, which latter has holes J therein for register with the holes K in the side strips, and the bar also has the overhanging lips L, which engage the edges of the side strips, when by the passage of the threaded bolts M and the running thereon of the thumb-nuts N the side strips will be rendered sufficiently rigid to prevent their displacement when the device is in use, and as a further means of holding the side strips in shape the stay-strips O are secured to the cross-bars by riveting, as shown at P, and are pivoted to the top of the side strips, as indicated at Q. This arrangement permits the ready folding of the device by simply rcmoving the distending-bar and the threaded bolt G.

R represents the fabric which is secured to the frame for the support of the head, and this fabric may be of any suitable material, preferably capable of permitting the passage of the air, and is secured to the side strips by the elastic lacing-cords S. These cords, as clearly shown, are passed through the eyelets T, placed along the edges of the fabric R, and to the eyelets U, placed along the edge of the covering V, which is secured upon the upper portion of the side strips. In practice I prefer that the eyelets T should be secured in a double thickness of material, and between these two thicknesses of material a metal or other stiffening strip W is placed, so that when pressure is brought to bear upon the support the fabric thereof will not be caused to wrinkle or draw out of shape, as will be readily understood. Likewise the eyelets U are preferably secured in a double thickness of fabric, said fabric constituting the cover of the upper portion of the side strips by being passed therearound and stretched or otherwise secured in place. The object of the elastic cords is to permit the supporting fabric R to yield. to the pressure of the head when laid thereon, thus making the rest exceedingly comfortable, while at the same time giving free ventilation therebeneath and through the fabric, which is especially advantageous in carrying off the heat from the head in hot weather and preventing the lodgment and propagation of disease germs.

When the headrest is collapsed the supporting fabric R readily folds between the side strips in a compact form, as shown in Fig. 6.

When my improvement is to be embodied in a bodyrest for childrens coaches and the like, it is constructed as shown in Fig. 1, consisting of the side strips a, bent into approximately rectangular shape and united by the cross-bars b, which are pivoted at d to the side strips and in the center to themselves, said cross-bars having the stay-strips e riveted thereto and pivoted at f to the top portion of the side strips. The same means is used for holding these cross-bars in alinement as that described in connection with the head-rest. The side strips of this body-rest are further held in position relative to each other by the distending-bars g, which are connected to the said strips by suitable bolts and thumbnuts H.

Of course I do not wish to limit myself to the size or exact design of either the head-rest or the body-rest nor the purposes for which they may be usedas, for instance, the bod yrest may be of sufficient size to serve as a mattress for an ordinary bedstead-nor do I wish to limit myself to the manner of securing the eyelets in the supporting fabric or to the side strips, since these eyelets could be secured 7 directly in said strips or in the stiffening-strip of the supporting fabric without departing from the spirit of my invention, the gist of which rests in the broadidea of constructing a collapsible ventilated head or body rest in such manner as to provide for perfect adaptation of the supporting fabric to the body or head, while permitting free ventilation therebeneath as well as therethrough.

vHaving thus fully described .my invention, what I claim as new and useful is- A head-rest consisting of the side strips B, cross-bars pivoted thereto, said bars being pivoted together at their inner ends and havthrough both series of eyelets for stretching the supporting fabric in place, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT E. LARRABEE. Witnesses:

JOHN MCCLOSKEY, his I. BANKS. 

